Why can't I drink water after midnight before surgery?!
Question:
Why can't I drink water after midnight before surgery?
My husband is having eye surgery and they are not going put him under. So, I was wondering why he can't eat or drink anything after midnight before the 11:00 am surgery.
Answers:
Before surgery they don't want anything in your stomach because it will react badly with the anesthesia. You need to have a completely empty stomach so that when they put the tubes in there is no reflux. Even drinking water or chewing gum will get your juices going and you will have a bad reaction. So, even if you are having a little bit later surgery they always say no eating after midnight as they are never exactly sure when your surgery is going to take place. They are very strict about this when you check into the hospital. They don't want you throwing up into the tube while they try to put you under, they don't want to risk you strangling on your own vomit.